Open Barbers London – new venue and crowdfunder

The search is over… We have found an accessible venue to run Open Barbers in for the next 5 years! It’s almost a dream come true, but we do need to fundraise at least £25,000, 75% of the renovation costs to get it off the ground.

By donating, you buy our amazing rewards including a chance to meet Kate Bornstein, spread the word and let’s show everyone that affordable, queer and trans friendly initiatives, where your gender is yours to decide, is a model for the future!

Open Barbers announce Pop-Up in Kennington Lane

Open Barbers are delighted to announce that we are moving to a new location from 1st November 2015 for up to 3 months. Our new temporary venue will be the former 40 year old barbershop Finishing Touch, located at 147 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 4HQ.

Our salon will operate some new opening hours listed below, and will continue to offer a community space for clients and visitors. Our social space will nestle in the Finishing Touch shop front, which sells literature and artwork including published works by some of Open Barbers’ existing clients.

Finishing Touch is a ‘pop-up’ bookshop (Luminous Books), gallery and project space based in the old barbershop. It is a collaborative project between Louisa Bailey and Joyce Cronin and will host the Open Barbers salon. Finishing Touch will programme a series of events, screenings, exhibitions and performances, inviting artists to work in the spirit of the ‘salon’ and all of its definitions – as a site for hair and beauty, as a gathering to share and exchange knowledge and as an exhibition space.

OPENING HOURS
Open Barbers will continue to offer 75 appointments, 7 days a week with Felix, Greygory and Richard working a slightly new timetable which can be booked using our usual booking bug system through our website.
Mon – Tue: 2-9pm, Wed – Thur: 12-5pm, Fri: 12-7pm, Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun: 12-7pm

ACCESSIBILITY
The entrance to 147 Kennington Lane is accessible by step or temporary ramp. The step is 15cm / 6in high and the front doors are 110cm / 3ft 8in wide. The space is level access inside throughout. There is a level access toilet that is not wheelchair accessible. There is 1 disabled access parking space directly outside the shop. More information on transport links is available on our website. Open Barbers are prioritising wheelchair accessible entrance and the installation of accessible toilet facilities as part of the search for a permanent location.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
After nearly 2 years subletting a room at the back of Chaps and Dames salon, Finsbury Park, Open Barbers are ready to move a new venue to expand their business in size and ambition. This pop-up location provides Open Barbers with a dynamic stepping stone until we move into more permanent premises in 2016. For further updates on Open Barbers’ long term location follow us on social media sites or check our website.
Facebook / Twitter @OpenBarbers / Instagram @openbarbers / Tumblr

QUOTES
Greygory and Felix are dedicated to creating a comfortable space for clients to linger, chat, meet others and share ideas, and through this social and hospitable approach they have built a network of talented people across London who now have shared connections through the salon. This is one of the main reasons I keep coming back to Open Barbers!
– Eva Rowson, Open Barbers client, Curator and Artist

We are so grateful for all the support Chaps and Dames have offered to get our social enterprise off the ground, and we are very excited about what the future holds. Our collaboration with Luminous Books represents a new direction combining our salon and pop-up history. It creates a new kind of space for the multi-disciplinary nature of our salon and complements the diverse talents among our client base. We aim to continue building enthusiasm and momentum for our project to propel us into a new long term location where we can really grow in scale and ambition.
– Greygory Vass, Co- Founder of Open Barbers

The location of the new premises can’t yet be disclosed, but we are delighted that it will be accessible, affordable and well located with a 5 year lease.

We have quotes from building professionals, we will be installing an accessible toilet, building a private space for discrete haircuts and welcoming collaborations with other entrepreneurs to build a much needed queer and trans friendly social space.

If all goes to plan we will open our new space in Spring 2016!

We’re also excited to be expanding the team by welcoming the wonderful Solomon for 4 dates in December, and more dates beyond! Solomon brings skills which widens our range of services, including more styling for long hair and / or Afro textured hair.

You can book an appointment with Solomon through our website or email us to request a consultation.

Why not read Solomon’s personal introduction to you or have a look at his gallery of his hairstyles?